EH - Essex > Hebrides...the next step of the adventure?

milann

Your gym visit costs are coming down nicely 👍
The Duxford visit sounds really interesting….a lovely visit for you 👍

EssexHebridean

I’m surprising myself how much I’m loving it - I’d really enjoy the chance to get a bit further afield now! 

Pleased to see the petition demanding that the energy “loan/levy” be made opt-in has been scrapped. It doesn’t seem to have occurred to most of those  who signed it that making it “opt in” means that a huge number of the people that actually will benefit from it would end up getting excluded - either because they don’t have the means/capacity to apply for it, or because they feel they “shouldn’t” or indeed quite simply because with all the fuss over it they’re now frightened about paying it back. It’s all well and good so many people saying “well I don’t need it so should be able to opt out” - but surely the important thing here is finding the most cost effective way of ensuring that those who DO need the help get it, without fail? It’s frustrating - the bigger picture is being entirely missed, is how it feels to me. People perhaps need to look a little harder at the level of financial privilege they actually have - I suspect not too many of those who signed before that got taken down are in the position of wondering whether to choose heat or food! Gah! Anyway, it’s been rejected in favour of a rather more sensible (but also I suspect short-sighted) one asking for the ability to opt OUT. It would still mean it costs more I suspect, but there you go! 

I’ve had my planned sofa day today after we headed out this morning and got the shopping. Also popped in to the charity shop and got an armful of books so I’m sorted for reading material for a while again.Shopping was just over £44 but included some storecupboard items, cleaning stuff etc. Did find some coupons on the CC app for extra points too which was a bonus! 

Did my driving licence photocard renewal this afternoon too - so another £14 spent but needs must. Also finally remembered to switch my bank cards over on my Apple Pay so my new current account one is on there now which might mean I actually remember to use it for my own personal spends!

Veg box has just arrived - including THREE Globe Artichokes - now what on Earth am I going to do with those?! 

RelievedSheff

I am in two minds over the £200 energy loan and to be perfectly honest would prefer not to have it myself. It is just kicking the can down the road, there is no guarantee that energy prices will fall. It could just compound problems further down the road.

boxofpaws

I agree about it kicking the can down the road. And frankly, it’s going to make little difference. 

I think i would try to make pizza with the artichokes. 

EssexHebridean

I’d ideally prefer not to have it, but equally we’re financially in a position where paying back at the rate of £3.xx a month will - fortunately for us - not prove to be a major hassle, and so if it’s the best way of ensuring that those likely to be at real risk from the high costs over the next winter don’t literally freeze in their beds, I’ll view it as a small inconvenience. I imagine that one of the things going on in the background now is plans around contingencies in case the cost of energy doesn’t fall as predicted, in which case those unable to pay back, and in fact in need of more support, will need to be identified.  

Pizza is a thought Paws - I’ll investigate, although not sure how I’d work it into the meal plan at this stage. Not practical to do for weekdays really! 

Proper lazy morning here so far - aside from making tea and toast I’ve not left the bed yet! 😁

RelievedSheff

As I understand it, the loan won't be paid monthly it will be a £40 repayment once a year which will surely make those struggling to budget for energy, struggle even further for that month 😕

lucielle

I think I’d make soup with the artichokes, then you can freeze some if you don’t get round to eating it. 

L

greenbee

Globe artichokes I'd just steam and eat with melted butter... Feel free to send them over... 

savingholmes

I want the loan to be opt out. Also the way they were planning to do it even people who hadn't received the loan would be subject to the levy. I have signed the petition and emailed my MP. Read what Martin says about it...

EssexHebridean

RelievedSheff said:

As I understand it, the loan won't be paid monthly it will be a £40 repayment once a year which will surely make those struggling to budget for energy, struggle even further for that month 😕

Currently the suggestion is that it will be added to the Standing Charge in much the same way that other levies are already - WHD, green infrastructure etc. that would seem to make sense to me as *most* people wont notice that small additional amount, and to my mind there needs to be a plan in place to pick up those who genuinely will struggle with it 0- but for those people the problem is bigger than just energy costs I suspect. 

SH I have read what Martin says about it - I agree with some of it, but I'm afraid I still can't see a better option that won't result in huge numbers falling through the net (rather the same as huge numbers currently fall through the net on the WHD!). It feels to me particularly reading he threads on the energy board as though the vast majority of those who are being most vocal about this are those who could perfectly well "afford" the levy for those five years, but don't see why they should have to because "I'm alright Jack". The flip side of people having to repay who have never received the levy is a situation where someone dies and their estate is not pursued to pay it back, where someone moves into sheltered accommodation or a care home, where a couple who were living separately move in together, or where a young person who was living solo in a bedsit moves into a houseshare with 5 others, for example - it really is roundabouts and swings. I'd imagine that they would expect a certain amount to be paid back "over the top" but then there ARE costs involved in administering any scheme like this of course... Don't get me wrong,, I'm not sure there is a "good" option, but I'm also not convinced that the scheme as currently announced isn't the "least worst" was of at least ensuring that all households that DO need help actually get it. Sadly even opt-out will lead to a lot of folk choosing to opt out because they feel they should. 

It's interesting that very few people are getting upset about the council tax rebate in spite of the fact that for many households it will simply get swallowed straight into an overdraft and never be available to be applied to their energy account. Those are the very people to whom the £200 could make an almighty difference. 

L soup is a thought but I've not really got the space in the freezer right now and it would all need to be frozen as meals for this week are already planned. I'm leaning towards just steaming them as you say greenbee - I'm not sure I can come up with a better option! (They "might" actually get done for tonight along with haggis and mash...not quite a traditional accompaniment but there you go!)

Just done the totting up for last month's food spend on the CC - £145 which is rather impressive! That means the "end of month" balance in the food account now sits at £132.91 so creeping towards my aim of staying "a month in hand". This month will be a challenge to keep to the same sort of level mind you as we've done more stocking-up shopping this week so the spend is already just over £50, and the famers market next week will see off another lump of money too. I'm hoping that the general supermarket shopping might be lower for the next few weeks though. 

Meals all planned for the week and aside from the usual gym etc, absolutely NOTHING planned for this week or next weekend either - bliss! Managed to get in a just-under 4 mile bike ride this morning as we got into London earlier than expected (half term, I assume?) and will look to repeat that this evening. Aiming for the gym tomorrow night for a strength session, and hoping to get an additional cardio session in on Thursday evening too as MrEH is likely to be doing extra rugby training that night.